| After a successful twenty-four-issue run, Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Jimenez have moved on to their own respective projects. With that, the Transformers series produced by Skybound Entertainment and published by Image Comics came with uncertainty. There was no immediate announcement, but a subtle marketing style that the studio is known for.
Transformers' twenty-fifth issue came out with an uncertain future, and at the same time a positive outlook for the direction the series is headed. The post-DWJ still has a few pages wrapping up in this issue, and Robert Kirkman has taken over the series, along with Dan Mora taking the artist reins for the first story arc. The aftermath of the past issue was quickly phased out, and new characters were introduced in the Energon Universe. It’s something to take in when you go through the pages for the first time without reading every panel. There’s optimism and ‘feel-good’ moments that make this issue feel like the first, but with a different writer. With respect to Kirkman and Mora, they’re like taking this as a new series, and it would feel like the consistent energy each issue brought for the first twenty-four issues looks entirely different. It's indeed a beginning of a new era for this series... |
There’s a lot to take in if you have been here from the start, and a renewed jumping-off point of interest for the newbies who just recently discovered this series but were unable to catch up to the earlier story arcs.
Published: 8 October 2025
Age Rating: Mature Audience
Language: English
Post-Chicago Siege
The damage to Chicago from the last five issues certainly shows the amount of destruction the Decepticons have brought to the humans. It shows in the face of the child who was wearing a mask, trying to be brave like Optimus Prime. The images Dan Mora brings emotion to something new and different with his art style.
The new look Transformers in these pages certainly is a transition period to what most readers have been used to, with a bit more ‘edgy’ style. But what makes it enticing are the clean lines and the way it feels brand new despite the damage made in the city of Chicago, which was so severe that the repair crews in the panels show the level of detail Dan Mora is good at in the human side of things.
The Missing Ark Returns
In the last issue, during the fight between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Skywarp teleports the Ark along with Thundercracker to a very unfamiliar place that was first introduced in the first issue of Cobra Commander. It was the home of Conra-La, but what it’s not explained or have seen by Thundercracker seems like trauma for him, and his brother Skywarp is a preview of what’s going to happen in the future issues.
But with this issue, they have returned, and there is also a preview of Skywarp being liberated and possibly repaired back to his original form. But the scene while the Ark was missing was something the Autobots had to deal with after capturing Soundwave, after being buried in the rubble and nowhere to put him in their ‘jail cell’ until the Ark reappeared and seen Thundercracker still hiding inside the ship.
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New Villainy
The Energon Universe continues to expand its world that started with Void Rivals, and now, in this issue, the introduction of Miles Mayhem, the leader of the terrorist group V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network or Mayhem) as one of the government’s top liaisons, showing he’s not to be trusted.
For those not in the know, Miles Mayhem is the foil to Matt Tracker in M.A.S.K that was introduced in the pages of the Energon Universe Special last year, crossing over with G.I.Joe’s Clutch and Autobot Hound. This gradual expansion of the Energon Universe is not what it was back when IDW Publishing was doing with their Hasbro Universe a decade ago. There’s a different vibe to this world-building since Void Rivals kicked off this universe.
It’s something to look forward to, with the subtle connections and how they bring in characters crossing over to the current series being produced by Skybound Entertainment. But for a long-time reader from the start of the series, it is also something you still try to get the feel of this new series and where it’s heading.
Overall, Skybound Entertainment is chugging along as the Energon Universe slowly moves to the next stage of its expanding stories, connecting with the aforementioned series and giving fans a jumping-off point to read a different kind of take from these beloved characters. The G.I. Joe franchise with Cobra Commander did not disappoint, as highly recommended.
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Overall, the first part of Robert Kirkman’s reign as the writer for the series is off to a good start. It’s something most readers of DWJ will need to get used to if they have read his past works like Invincible or The Waking Dead. The energy is different, and yet the core story continues with the new introduction of characters and surprises that certainly make the series worth the read, for now.
It’s not the same edgy gut-punch series that the fans are used to with the previous creative team, but it is a start that most readers of the Transformers fans are looking for. The Energon Universe is really expanding after the past two years of world-building that doesn’t need to be rushed, but also doesn't need to be slowed down for the wow factor. This issue shows it can be taken over by a new creative team and, at the same time, provide a proper transition from the previous creative artists behind it.
Is it worth the start? It sure is for those who are finding out this series, but not what you’d expect or compare to the previous twenty-four issues. But like any Transformers fan, it is something many would look forward to,
NEXT: Transformers #26
Transformers #25 is a continuing series published by Image Comics under Skybound Entertainment, and this is sold internationally for $4.99 USD ($ 7.56 AUD | ₱ 281.37 Pesos), but this was acquired at a local comic shop in the Philippines for ₱ 325.00 Pesos ($ 8.74 AUD | $ 5.76 USD). Please contact or visit your local Comic Shop for availability.
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